Is Dimethylpolysiloxane Bad For You?

Also Known As: Polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS, dimethicone, E900

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Grade

N

Short answer

As sinister as dimethylpolysiloxane sounds, there is no definitive proof that it poses any immediate danger to your health. When looking at other ingredients found in products/foods containing the additive, dimethylpolysiloxane becomes the least of your worries.

Grade

N

Letter Grade for Dimethylpolysiloxane

N

'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.

Category 'A'

Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).

A

Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.

A-

Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.

It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.

Category 'B'

B+

Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.

B

Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.

B-

More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.

The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.

Category 'C'

C+

Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.

C

A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.

C-

More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.

Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.

Category 'D'

D+

Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.

D

Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.

D-

Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.

Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.

Category 'F'

F

Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.

Category 'N'

N

'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.

Long answer

Dimethylpolysiloxane (or polydimethylsiloxane) is a product of an industrial chemical process that is partially derived from silicone. This chemical may be found by most people to have a vinegar-like smell and is most associated with its presence in such commercial products as grease, silicone lubricants, mold expulsion agents, polishes, bathroom caulk / sealants, de-foaming agents and cosmetic products. Additionally, dimethylpolysiloxane can be found in small amounts in the food we eat. These silicone polymers are well-known for being non-biodegradable. To put into perspective, it could take dimethylpolysiloxane as much as one hundred years to fully decompose. Thus, the non-biodegradable characteristic of dimethylpolysiloxane serves as a good food preservative.

For the sake of neutrality, it is important to point out that no official studies have proven that dimethylpolysiloxane is a health risk to humans. According to CFR Title 21, de-foaming agents may be safely added to food products in the United States. The FDA authorizes that ten parts per million of dimethylpolysiloxane and other similar silicone derivatives can be added to foods that are labeled as “ready-for-consumption”. The “zero” exception for this regulation as explained in CFR 21, is milk.

The production process that yields dimethylpolysiloxane has a combination of many chemicals that are considered “less than safe” for human consumption. However, these potential precursors are quantitatively insignificant and have not been proven to cause any adverse effects to the human body. The truth is that the foods in which dimethylpolysiloxane are contained, as a whole, are terrible for the wellness of the body when consumed excessively. It is most often lurking in the fast-food joints, inside your made to order ‘heart attack in a bag’. In other words, dimethylpolysiloxane is the least of all the dreadful ingredients in foods “ready-for-consumption”.